After 3 years of contemplating Landscape Architecture and Landscape Design,
I believe that I have finally figured out what makes a successful space. I
instinctively have been drawn toward designing based on the feeling and ambiance
that I wish to create in spaces. It has become clear to me in the last year that
I want to design spaces based on the psychology of the landscape and based on
human behavior (the study of proxemics). Too often designers fail to recognize
who it is that they are designing spaces for and get wrapped up in their own
personal ego and style. We forget that the human experience is at the heart of
successful spaces. The generic 6' benches that are placed in every public space
might be an easy way to provide seating, but behavioral research has shown
that strangers will not sit with more than two people to a 6' bench! If we
Landscape Architects do not realize the fundamentals of human behavior and nature,
our spaces will fail to ever reach their highest potential.
A successful space is one that takes into account all aspects of the site and
blends them together in an aesthetic, useful, and creative way. Spaces must
take into consideration the multiple ages of users, human behavior (proxemics),
emotional qualities, as well as color, form, materiality, and architecture.
I hope to be able to build my own firm in which psychologists, design/environmental
analysis professionals, and landscape architects can work together under one roof
to create perfectly balanced spaces. The spaces will be useful, beautiful,
and incredibly stimulating environments to experience. The goal of all Landscape
Architects should be creating spaces that not only look good on paper, but
function and feel appropriate for the users who will occupy these spaces for years
to come.
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